NEED THERE BE A SOCIOLOGY OF RACE RELATIONS?

A review article focused on 3 books: (1) J. Mason, PAT- TERNS OF DOMINANCE (Oxford, England: Oxford U Press, 1970); (2) J. Rex, RACE RELATIONS IN SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, no other information given); & (3) S. Zubaida, Ed, RACE AND RACIALISM (London, England: Tavistock Publications, 1970). It is shown that all 3 books duck the issue that some racial att's & beliefs in some societies may constitute coherent & enduring systems, but one contributor to the Zubaida Vol, Wolpe, comes near to a defense of the Marxist position. Weaknesses in some other contributions are pointed out & strengths are indicated. Zubaida, as Ed, makes a plea for studies which put race relations in the context of the wider soc structure & which examine processes over time. It is found that psychol'al theories are necessary to explain racial prejudice. The sociol'st's role as critic of society & his responsibility of describing & explaining the soc world as it exists while remaining aware of all the difficulties that surround the notion of the `objectivity' of soc phenomena, is pointed out. The authors of & contributors to the above Vol's are commended for their attempts to affirm their commitment to soc sci as well as expressing their concern for the wretched of the earth. M. Maxfield.